Father kills girl, commits suicide

He was depressed after his wife died while undergoing an abortion

Apparently depressed over his wife’s death last year, a 42-year-old man killed his nine-year-old daughter before committing suicide by consuming poison in north Delhi’s Malka Ganj. A suicide note has been recovered, police said on Monday.

Praveen Kumar and his daughter Khushi were found dead in their second-floor house in Julahan Basti by Praveen’s nephew Naveen on Sunday.

Police was informed at around 1.30 pm following which a local police team along with doctors reached the spot.

“The entire area was cordoned-off after Praveen and Khushi were declared dead,” a police officer said.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem to Subzi Mandi mortuary after inspection of the house.

Naveen told police that Praveen was depressed following Pooja’s death on October 30, 2012 and was suicidal. Praveen married Pooja in 2002, but she died while undergoing surgical abortion at a clinic in Subzi Mandi area.

Sources said that Praveen was found dead holding Pooja’s photograph and wearing his wedding attire.

“After initial probe, we suspect that the deaths took place between 7 pm on Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday,” a police officer said.

Police have recovered a suicide note from the house in which Praveen blamed threatening calls being received over a case filed over Pooja’s death.
Sources said Pooja was two-month pregnant when the husband-wife decided to abort the child due to their deteriorating economic condition.

They went to a nearby clinic, but Pooja bled to death during the abortion procedure.
A case was subsequently lodged against the clinic, but the court is yet to give an order and the doctor continues to practice.

Subzi Mandi police station is investigating the matter and has questioned Praveen’s family members and friends to ascertain the sequence of events.

The bodies were handed over to the family after post-mortem on Monday.

“Prima facie, it seems that there was no foul play in the incident. However, we are investigating it from all possible angles,” the officer added.